An exhibition of contemporary textile works by Susan Fell Mclean.

Timeless Textiles will feature the work of internationally renowned artist Susan Fell Mclean in a new exhibition, Multiplicity, Resists and Palimpsests,which shows her diverse skills.

Mclean has travelled extensively to research her craft, and her experience includes a studio residency in Italy, speaking and exhibiting at conferences in Belgium, Malaysia, Boston USA and France. She has also conducted research in Africa and Thailand. In 2010, Mclean visited artist’s studios, museums and research centres in Kyoto and Aramatsu in Japan.

Now living in Mullumbimby, Mclean takes inspiration from the beautiful landscape of the Northern Rivers, and previously from the environment around her home in Victoria. She has staged many exhibitions of her textile art and holds a Masters of Visual Arts degree from Monash University. With recent solo exhibitions at two regional art galleries, her textiles expertise is expanding.

The Multiplicity, Resists and Palimpsests exhibition shows Mclean’s consummate skill in transforming textiles by resists and palimpsests. Of this process Susan says:

“Challenging traditional ways in which textile art is perceived and represented is part of my creative journey. Over the last few years, my constant companion on that journey has been Italo Calvino, whose writing inspires me.”

Mclean was particularly inspired by Calvino’s reference to multiplicity, in his book Six Memos for the Next Millennium,as the ‘exhilarating infinitude of possibilities open to humankind’. His words provide the frameworkfor Mclean’s work in this exhibition, which references concepts and places that inspire her, as well as textile techniques.

“I find beauty in Batik and Rozome and Katzome, Shibori and Feltmaking. Stitch as a drawing tool, constantly amazes me. I am passionate about colour – particularly from eucalyptus dyes and indigo.”

Multiplicity, Resists and Palimpsestsis an inventory of Mclean’s amazing textile techniques. In creating the works she aspires to Calvino’s goal for artists and writers to “set themselves immeasurable goals, far beyond all hope of achievement” and succeeds in creating something remarkable.

The exhibition opens on 21 June 6pm- 8pm and continues until 15 July 2012.